A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 139

Author: Coolidge, Orville W
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1314

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Care Schultz

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

four hundred and fifty acres and is one of the largest and finest fruit farms of Michigan, having nearly fifty thousand trees of apples, pears, plums and peaches. The orchards cover three hundred acres, while the re- mainder of the farm is devoted to pasturage. Apple trees are planted throughout each or- chard, the younger trees having been set out six years ago. They have made a most wonderful growth and have already borne fruit. Two of the older apple orchards set out in 1871 and 1876, respectively, have few equals, there having hardly been a crop fail- ure in the last twenty years. Mr. Sherwood has rebuilt and enlarged his home and now has a fine colonial residence overlooking Paw Paw lake and equipped with every mod- ern convenience, including hot water heat- ing system, a gas plant for cooking and illuminating purposes and other modern ac- cessories, making this one of the model farm homes in Berrien county. A glance at his farm indicates that it is in the care of one who has brought a knowledge of horti- culture and is most practical as well as pro- gressive in his methods. His orchards are in excellent condition, each tree receiving careful attention and in a single years he has shipped seventy carloads of fruit, most of which is sold on the track at Watervliet. He grows for commercial purposes and in connection with his fruit raising interests he breeds Percheron horses, having one hun- dred and fifty acres of land devoted to pas- turage.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood has been blessed with five children, Marion, Malcolm, Donald, Richard and Dudley, all of whom are yet under the parental roof. Mr. Sherwood is a man of domestic tastes, who finds his home life most attractive and he is always happiest when surrounded by his family at his own fireside. The home contains a well selected library, with the con- tents of which he is largely familiar, and he is especially fond of history, his reading along that line being particularly broad. His wife is a member of the Ladies Club, and both Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood hold member- ship in the Congregational Church at Water- vliet, while fraternally he is connected with

the Masons. Unlike his father he has never sought to figure prominently in political cir- cles and his allegiance is given to the Re- publican party. He is one in whom nature and education have vied to make a cul- tured and interesting gentleman, and a so- cial, affable manner renders him popular with his fellow men while his genuine per- sonal worth is immediately recognized by all with whom he comes in contact. He holds to no false standards of life regarding the individual and his environment at their true worth, and while he has prospered in his business career it is the success that comes from honorable and straightforward effort, well. placed investments and well managed business interests.

CARL J. SCHULTZ, filling the office of county treasurer of Berrien county, and a resident of St. Joseph, Michigan, was born in the village of New Buffalo, August II, 1873. He is a son of C. H. and Anna M. (Holch) Schultz, natives of Germany, who in 1843 came to the United States, locating in the township of New Buffalo, Berrien county. They now reside in the village of that name. For thirty years the father has been engaged in fruit growing and floral culture.

Carl J. Schultz, the immediate subject of this review, was reared in New Buffalo, where he attended the public schools, being graduated on the completion of the high school course in 1888. He afterward spent one year in the study of the German lan- guage, and later was for two years a student in Marion (Indiana) Normal School and Business College. Returning hime, he was employed for one year in the railway office at New Buffalo, after which he was for some time engaged in business with his father. He came to St. Joseph in 1902. and for about two years thereafter was deputy county clerk of Berrien county. In January, 1905. he was appointed city as- sessor of St. Joseph in which capacity he served until the following October, when he was appointed county treasurer of Ber- rien county to fill out an unexpired term of Alva Sherwood, deceased. While a resi-

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

dent of New Buffalo township Mr. Schultz held a number of township offices and was a representative of that township on the board of county supervisors. Although yet a young man he has for years taken an active part in public affairs in Berrien county, and his political record has been characterized by the utmost fidelity to the Republican party and the principles in which he be- lieves. On the 4th of September, 1906, he received the nomination from the members of his party for the office of treasurer of Berrien county, and was elected November 6, following, with a majority of one thous- and seven hundred and fifty-five, leading the entire county as well as the state ticket.

In 1896 Mr. Schultz was married to Miss Gussie J. Tanner, and unto them have been born three children, Harold B., Ber- nice M. and Paul H. The parents are mem- bers of the Congregational church. Mr. Schultz holds membership with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Royal Arch Masons. He is a prominent and popular man and his official service is a case in which his fidelity is being re- warded.

J. D. KRIEGER. The Krieger family in Berrien county is too well known to need special introduction in this volume, for its representatives have long been prominent and influential here as business men and as champions of all that stands for development and improvement. There were six brothers, Jacob, Peter, Christian, Charlie, John and Adam, who were sons of Christian Krieger. They came from Prussia to America, emi- grating to the United States about 1840. They landed at Cincinnati, and some time afterward Jacob Krieger came to St. Joseph, Michigan, having learned of this district through a land company in Cincinnati. Fol- lowing his arrival he worked for the firm of Smith & Murray, who were large land- owners here. He was employed at clearing and breaking land, building houses and at other work, and he soon secured land for himself near the present site of the Evan- gelical Church. He was here married to Catherine Heffner, after which he continued

to work for the land company and took land in payment for his labor. Thus he became the owner of a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which is now owned by a Mr. Wilming. Upon that place Jacob Krieger spent his remaining days and eventually passed away there. Abuot 1850 his broth- ers came, as did his father, who died soon after, being an old man at the time of his arrival in Michigan. All.six of the brothers settled in Bainbridge but only two are now living. Charles Krieger is a well known hotel man, formerly of St. Joseph, but now of Chicago. He built the Whitcomb Hotel in St. Joseph and also built and operated the American House there, but at the present writing he is living in the western metropo- lis. Adam Krieger, who also survives, was for many years an active farmer of Bain- bridge township and is still living within its borders. His old home farm is now owned by his daughter, Mrs. Fred Holler. Of the other members of the family, John Krieger died when a young man, while Peter Krieger died when about seventy-two years of age. Fred Krieger is mentioned on an- other page of this work, and Christian be- came the father of Jacob C. Krieger, in con- nection with whose history mention will be found of him.

Jacob Krieger went to California about 1850, attracted by the discovery of gold on the Pacific slope, and was engaged in mining there for three years but he did not meet with the success he had anticipated and re- turned to Michigan, where he again gave his attention to agricultural pursuits. He owned a number of small tracts of land including the present farm of J. D. Krieger. His home place was an excellent farm property and as the result of his care and labor was so developed that his fields brought good returns and the farm became a very pro- ductive one. He continued to make it his home until his death, which occurred May 22, 1881, when he was sixty-five years of age, while his wife survived him for ten years. They were numbered among the original members of the Evangelical Asso- ciation of Bainbridge and continued in active connection throughout life. In their family

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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY

were eight children, namely: Jacob D., whose name introduces this record; Caro- line, the wife of Herman Goudy, of Bain- bridge; Louisa, who became the wife of Charles Weber and died when about forty- two years of age; Peter, of Bainbridge town- ship; Charlie, a farmer living at Climax, Michigan; John, also of Bainbridge; Frank, of the same place; and Nettie, who became the wife of William Buhlinger and died upon the old Krieger homestead at the age of thirty-seven years.

Jacob D. Krieger was born in this county January 27, 1844, and remained at home until after the outbreak of the Civil war, acquiring his education in the district schools, while during the summer months and periods of vacation he aided in the work of the home farm. He was only eighteen years of age, when, in 1862, he enlisted in response to the country's call for aid, be- coming a member of Company I, Nineteenth Michigan Infantry, with which he went to the front. He was captured with his bri- gade at Spring Hill, Tennessee, and after being held as a prisoner of war for about thirty-two days was exchanged at City Point and finally was at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio. He then rejoined his regiment and took part in the Atlanta campaign, with all its hotly contested battles and its long ardu- ous marches. He went into Atlanta in an ambulance, being ill with typhoid fever. He was captured in South Carolina on the northern march, being at that time on forage detail. He was alone and fell into the hands of rebel scouts who were dressed in Federal overcoats, and instead of succeeding in cap- turing supplies from the enemy he lost his own. The same squad of rebel scouts cap- tured two more Berrien county men. Mr. Krieger was returned to Libby prison, and after a time was taken to Salisbury. He was removed from that place as a prisoner when Grant made his advance, and was taken by train to some outside town, being turned over to the Federals at City Point. He then went back to Camp Chase in Ohio. He was never wounded although he was often in the thickest of the fight and displayed his valor and loyalty on many hotly contested battlefields of the south.

Following his return home Mr. Krieger was married, in 1865, to Miss Elizabeth Kniebes, a daughter of Peter Kniebes, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Krieger was about seventeen years of age at the time of her marriage. The young couple began their domestic life upon the farm which is still their home. Mr. Krieger had eight acres of land cleared and there was an old house on the place, which remained their home for a long period but about ten years ago he erected his present residence. He now has the place all under cultivation, mainly planted to fruit. It is conveniently situated about a quarter of a mile south of Bainbridge Center, and there Mr. Krieger raises good fruit, which finds a ready sale on the market, his home being splendidly located in the midst of the fruit belt of Ber- rien county.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Krieger have been born six children: Harvey, of Bainbridge township, who married Eva Pearl, a daugh- ter of Warren Pearl and a representative of one of the oldest and most prominent fam- ilies of the county ; Jacob, also of Bainbridge, who married Lillian Arford; Ionia, the wife of Ira Harner, of Bainbridge; Lizzie, the wife of Paul Hartung, a bookkeeper in the Fair store in Chicago; and May and Ros- coe, both at home. Mrs. Krieger belongs to the church of which her parents were mem- bers. In his political views Mr. Krieger is a Republican, having cast his first presiden- tial vote at Atlanta, Georgia, in 1864, while serving as a defender of the Union. He has filled the office of township treasurer, and on the 4th of July, 1906, his fifth term as jus- tice of the peace expired. He has kept in active touch with the party, frequently serv- ing as a delegate to its conventions, and is recognized as a leader in its local ranks. In the discharge of his official duties he has always been prompt and faithful and his long continuance in the office of justice in- dicates that his decisions were strictly fair and impartial.

CHARLES G. SCHAUS, living in Bainbridge township, is one of the self-made men of Berrien county. Without special advantages at the outset of his career he

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has worked laboriously and earnestly to achieve success and overcoming all difficul- ties in his path by determination and brook- ing no obstacles that can be overthrown by honest effort. He was born in Bainbridge near the present site of the Catholic Church, on the 12th of November, 1849, and is the eldest child of Jacob L. and Mary (Duke- sherer) Schaus, the latter a daughter of William Dukeshearer and a sister of Henry Dukesherer. When Charles G. Schaus was but three years of age his parents removed to a new place in Watervliet, where they remained for five years, when the property was sold. This was in 1857, in which year Jacob L. Schaus settled upon what has since been known as the old homestead farm. There he continued to reside until called to his final rest on the 25th of March, 1884, when he was in the fifty-sixth year of his age. His widow survived him until 1902, passing away at the age of seventy-three years. They were married in Berrien coun- ty in 1847, after which Jacob L. Schaus worked for a Mr. Kline in Benton Harbor. His wife had been employed at St. Joseph and at the time of her marriage was but nine- teen years of age. Her death occured on the old Adam Scharm place. In the family were two sons, the younger being Frank.

Charles G. Schaus, spending his early youth in his parents' home, started out in life on his own account at the age of fourteen years and was employed at farm labor until twenty-two years of age. When he was eighteen years old, however, his father gave him his time, and when he was twenty- two he had saved from his earnings the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars. With that capital he married and started in life for himself. It was on the 23rd of November, 1870, that his marriage to Miss Augusta Butzbach was celebrated. Mrs. Schaus was at that time only eighteen years of age and was the eldest child of Philip and Plantina Butzbach. For more than a quarter of a century Mr. and Mrs. Schaus traveled life's journey happily together and were then sep- arated by the death of the wife on the 8th of February, 1896. Unto them had been born four sons and a daughter: Henry, who is now living in Bainbridge township; Sam-

uel, who is engaged in the wholesale pro- duce and fruit business in Benton Harbor, as a member of the firm of Seitz, Runneker & Schaus; Robert, who is a cook at Grand Rapids; Charles, who is principal of the high school at Big Rapids, Michigan, having at one time attended the Ferris Institute, at. Big Rapids, while later he taught school at Pen Yan and subsequently at the Pearl Grange school house, where he was assisted by his sister; and Anna Louisa, the wife of Charles Steinbarger, now of Sunfield, Eaton county, Michigan. After losing his first. wife, Mr. Schaus was again married, on the the 16th of September, 1898, his second union being with Miss Sallie Jewell, a neigh- bor's daughter. Her parents, Wesley and Anna Jewell, are now living in Stevensville, Michigan, where Mrs. Schaus was born. There is one child of this marriage, Leah Catherine Schaus.

Mr. Schaus through his first purchase of land became the owner of forty acres of his present farm, for which he paid nine hundred dollars. It was covered with grubs and he secured a yoke of oxen with which to perform the hard labor inci- dent to clearing and cultivating the land. As the years passed by he prepared the. fields for the plow and gathered rich harvests as a reward for the care and labor which he bestowed upon his place. For twenty-two years he operated a thresh- ing machine, carrying on the business a part of the time on his own account and also a. part of the time for Hayden Brothers. He began with an old horsepower machine and afterward with a portable engine, while later he became owner of a traction engine. His work in this direction has extended as far north as South Haven. He confines his own farm to the raising of grain and now has eighty acres of rich and productive land a half mile south of Bainbridge Center. The residence stands on an eminence and com- mands a fine view of the surrounding coun -. try, and altogether the farm is a very at- tractive place, neat in its environments and giving every evidence of the careful super- vision of a practical and progressive owner.

In his political views Mr. Schaus is an earnest Republican. He belongs to the:

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Evangelical Association of Bainbridge, which was also the church of his father and is interested in the moral as well as material development of the community. He finds pleasure and recreation from his business cares in hunting, and he and his sons enjoy various outings of that character. His en- tire life has been passed in this county, and as a representative of a pioneer family he well deserves mention in this volume.

URIAS VAN VRANKEN is the owner of one of the fine farms of the fruit belt of Berrien county, and his success as a fruit grower stamps him as one thoroughly con- versant with the business and as one who has gained for this district the splendid reputa- tion it bears as a horticultural center. He lives upon a part of what is the old Van Vranken homestead, and it was here that he was born on the Ist of October, 1844. His parents were Garrett and Emily Van Vran- ken. The father was born in New York, and, as the name indicates, was of Holland descent. He lost his mother when he was only three years of age and was reared by an English family. Coming to Michigan in pioneer times he settled in Berrien county and became an enterprising horticulturist of Bainbridge township, living upon a farm which included the tract of land now in possession of his son Urias. For many years he successfully carried on farming here and passed away on the 19th of August, 1877. His widow still survives and is living with her youngest daughter, Mrs. E. N. Matrau, at Watervliet. She is a sister of J. F. Hig- bee of Benton Harbor, in whose sketch on another page of this work mention is made of their family history.

Urias Van Vranken remained at home until he had attained his majority and still resides upon a part of the old home place. He was educated in the public schools and reared to the occupation of farming, and throughout his entire life his time and ener- gies have been devoted to agricultural and horticultural pursuits. He has eighty acres of land in the home place and twenty acres in Pipestone township. The home place was cleared by his father, having come into his possession in its natural state. About thirty

years ago Mr. Van Vranken of this review erected his present residence. He has more than fifty acres planted to fruit, five acres in apples, twelve acres in grapes and other tracts in peaches and pears. His fruit sales amount to about fifteen hundred dollars annually. He is also well known as a melon grower, having about ten acres planted to osage melons, and to the cultivation of melons he has given his attention for twenty years, the average sales from this tract amounting to several hundred dollars annu- ally. The farm is a very fine one, splendidly situated in the midst of the fruit belt of Berrien county and Mr. Van Vranken is thoroughly familiar with the best methods of producing all kinds of fruit, having made a close study of everything bearing upon the subject of horticulture. His apples bring the highest prices on the market and every- thing that he produces is of fine size and quality, for he uses the best nursery stock and seeds for the growing of fruit and melons.

On the 20th of April, 1876, Mr. Van Vranken was united in marriage to Miss Belle Petrie, of Sodus township, and they have a family of three daughters: Eva, now the wife of Noble Wells, of Pipestone township; and Ida and Ina, twins. The former has engaged in teaching for four years in Berrien county, mainly at Fair- plains, and Ina is the wife of Ernest Lewis, of Bainbridge township.

In his political views Mr. Van Vranken is a Democrat where national issues are in- volved but casts an independent local ballot. He is interested in matters of citizenship re- lating to material, intellectual and moral progress and stands for all that is best for the community. His entire life has been passed in this part of the state, and for more than six decades he has been a witness of the changes that time and man have wrought, as business conditions have brought about marked differences in the methods of carrying on agricultural and horticultural, as well as commercial pur- suits. He has kept in touch with the uni- form development and in fact has been a leader in the line of his chosen occupation.

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LEWIS UMPHREY is a representative farmer of Bainbridge township and belongs to one of its worthy families. Michael Um- phrey, one of the pioneers of Bainbridge, came from Germany in company with the first German settlers of this locality, includ- ing the Kniebes and the Smithberger fam- ilies. He located in Watervliet township, and his old home property is still in posses- sion of the family. In the family of Michael Umphrey were three sons, Peter, Lewis and Philip. Peter died at Bowling Green, Ken- `ucky, during the Civil war, and Philip died in the south after the close of hostilities.

Lewis Umphrey remained upon the old home farm assisting in its development and improvement during pioneer days and after arriving at years of maturity he was mar- ried to Miss Abbie Denner, at the present home of her son Lewis in Bainbridge town- ship. Her father, John Denner, came to Michigan when she was thirteen years of age, and in 1849 or 1850 he went to Califor- nia, after which he returned to Michigan. His life was largely passed in a house which stood on the present site of the old barn, which was the first barn in this vicinity, built sixty years ago by the company that owned the land. He died at the age of seventy- three years and his son, John Denner, now of Benton Harbor, was the owner of the farm until it passed into the possession of Lewis Umphrey in 1886.

Lewis Umphrey, Sr., had a family of eight sons, of whom Lewis, Jr., is the third in order of birth. He was born July 17, 1859, in the old log house which was after- ward replaced by the brick residence. His father died when he was twenty-one years of age and the mangement of the farm then devolved upon him. He remained upon the place with his mother until his marriage, at the age of twenty-eight years, to Miss Anna Kniebes, the youngest daughter of Peter Kniebes, at which time he removed to a place adjoining his present place of resi- dence. In 1886 he purchased the farm upon which he now resides. The old house was burned about two years after his marriage and he then erected a comfortable, modern residence. He has forty-eight acres of land, constituting one of the best farms of the

township. About ten acres is devoted to apples and peaches and his farm is well im- proved in every particular, being character- ized by neatness and thrift, which indicates the progressive spirit and practical efforts of the owner.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Umphrey have been born four children, Lewis M., Edna, Florence and Raymond, all of whom are yet under the parental roof. In his political views Mr. Umphrey is a stalwart Republi- can, and, as every true American citizen should do, keeps well informed on the ques- tions and issues of the day but he has never sought office, preferring to confine his at- tention to his farming interests. His recre- ation and pleasure came through hunting and fishing but his time is largely given to the development and improvement of the farm and he is accounted one of the ener- getic and active business men of his com- munity.

JOSEPH WILLMING, residing in Bainbridge township, was born near Joliet, Illinois, January 19, 1858. His father, B. Willming, was a native of Alsace, France, and when a young man crossed the Atlantic to the new world. In Illinois he was married to Miss Elizabeth Siler, who was also born in Alsace. Mr. Willming had served for fourteen years in the French army, spending seven years of that time in military duty in Africa. In Illinois he turned his atten- tion to farming. Three of his sons are liv- ing in Bainbridge township, Joseph, Andrew and Serphine. Joseph arrived in 1878 and has therefore been a resident of the county for twenty-seven years, while Serphine has lived here for four years and Andrew for two years.

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A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan, Part 139

Author: Coolidge, Orville W Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1314

Author: Coolidge, Orville W
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1314